Fire-escape



(No Model.) v I 0'. S. JUDD.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No.3 '72,982. I Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

UNIT STATES PATENT rricn.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,982, dated November 8, 1887.

Application filed July 2], 1887. Serial No. 244,867. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER S. JUDD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Brit am, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of permanent fire-escapes-that is, those escapes which are permanently attached to the side of a buildwith one of my escapes attached thereto. Fig.

2 is a detail View of a portion of the device showing the steps or rungs in front View. Fig. 3 is a view of the same portion, but showing it turned ninety degrees from the position occupied in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View showing the manner of connecting the rungs to the main support.

The brackets a have openings in their extended outer ends for thesupport of the column b, and are secured to the side of a building in any desirable manner, and the column b, which is preferably hollow and extends from the ground to the roof, or as nearly so as is desirable, is passed through the openings in the brackets, and thus supported by them in an upright position. This column bears a number of steps or rungs, c, which fit in such a manner that they can be rotated or raised and lowered on the column for the purpose of adjustment; but each rung has a threaded socket, and a set-screw fitting such socket in a manner that allows the screw to set against the column and secure the rung after it has been adjusted.

When the column b is made hollow, as represented in the drawings, the lower end may be connected to a water-supply pipe, and at any convenient point the column. may be tapped and a hose, d, attached, to enable a stream of water to be directed upon the fire.

Of course with this construction the ordinary cocks are provided for controlling the supply of water, and the column may be kept full of water, so as to be ready for any emergency; or it may be used merely as a conductor.

There may be any number of brackets for supporting the device, and any convenient number of rungs or steps, usually the rungs immediately above the brackets, being depended upon to hold up the column. The body of the rung forms a collar that rests on thetop of the bracket, as shown in the drawings.

It is obvious that the upper end of the column should be closed by some 1neansas, for instance, a plug or cap-and such cap may rest upon the upper bracket, if desired.

, The advantages of my invention are numerous. The device is simple, cheap, and eificient. The vertical adj ustability of the rungs allows them to be put at any distance apart, so as to be in convenient positionand reach of windows, in order that the device can be used safely without being specially made and fitted for each place or building on which it can be placed, and

the horizontal adj ustability allows the rungs to be set so as to avoid any projection from the side of a building; also allowing them to be set as shown in Fig. l of the drawings,where the upper rungs are parallel with the building and the lower ones inclined to adapt them to the angle between the two buildings, this latter adjustment permitting the device to be used in places Where it isimpracticable to use any prior fire-escape.

In order to attain the best adjustment with my fire-escape, it is not only essential that the rungs shall beadjustable separately, but also that the brackets, having their outer ends to fit the column or stand-pipe, shall be extended so as to hold the column some distance from the buildingfor instance, a distance greateror nearly equal to the projection of the end of the rungs from the columnso that the rungs may stand parallel with the side of the building, or at right angles thereto, or at any intermediate angle. While my escape is very convenient, it is so simple in construction that it can be made at a very small cost.

I am aware that a prior patent shows and describes an attachment for fire-extinguishing water-pipes of buildings,in which astand-pipe ICO is provided with climbing-pins screwed into the pipe on opposite sides, or into opposite sides of collars clamped thereon, the standpipe being secured closely to the sides of the building by means of branch pipes. Such a device is hereby diselaimed.

I claim as my invention In a fire-escape, the combination of the brackets a, adapted to be secured to a building, and having at their extended outer ends vertieal openings, the column b,extending through said openings in the brackets, and the rungs c, separately adjustable both vertically and laterally and having their projecting ends extending about the same distance from the 001- 15 umn that the brackets are extended from the building, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

OLIVER S. J UDD. Witnesses:

JAMES SHEPARD, JOHN EDWARDS, Jr. 

